A delegation from the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) Committee on Trade, Customs and Immigration Matters is in Ghana for a four-day mission, from 27th to 30th October 2025, to assess the country’s implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) and to advocate for the ratification of the AU Protocol on Free Movement of Persons.
The mission, which forms part of the Committee’s 2025 work plan, will see the delegation engage key national stakeholders including the Speaker of Parliament, the Ministers of Trade, Foreign Affairs, and the Interior, civil society organizations, and business associations.
On the first day of the mission, Monday, 27th October 2025, the delegation paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, who briefed them on progress made by the government in implementing the Free Trade Area Agreement for the benefit of Ghanaian citizens.
The delegation later met with the leadership of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), who shared insights into the opportunities and challenges encountered in the implementation of the AfCFTA.
As part of their itinerary, the team will also visit the Noepe One Stop Border Post at the Ghana–Togo border to review progress on cross-border trade and regional integration. While in Accra, the delegation will hold discussions with officials of the AfCFTA Secretariat to explore collaboration in advancing intra-African trade and promoting the ratification and domestication of the Free Movement Protocol, which Ghana has signed but not yet ratified.
The mission is expected to deepen understanding of Ghana’s progress under AfCFTA, strengthen partnerships between African Union organs, and accelerate efforts toward the continent’s economic integration agenda.
The AfCFTA Guided Trade Initiative, launched in October 2022, was designed to operationally kick-start trade under the continental free trade agreement by testing the readiness of State Parties and the private sector. Ghana was among the pioneering countries that participated in the initiative, which facilitated trade in selected products such as ceramic tiles, processed meat, sugar, and dried fruits across African markets.
Despite Ghana’s active participation, the country has yet to ratify the AU Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, a critical component of Africa’s integration agenda that seeks to enable mobility, residence, and establishment rights for Africans across borders. As of August 2023, 32 countries had signed the Protocol, but only four had ratified it.
The mission’s expected outcomes include enhancing understanding of Ghana’s performance under AfCFTA, increasing awareness of the importance of ratifying the Free Movement Protocol, and fostering stronger collaboration between the Pan-African Parliament and the AfCFTA Secretariat.
Headquartered in Midrand, South Africa, the Pan-African Parliament serves as the legislative arm of the African Union, representing the voices of African citizens and overseeing the implementation of AU objectives across member states.
Source: Clement Akoloh||africanewsradio.com
